Label accumulator for addressing machine

ABSTRACT

An addressing machine for articles for use with a continuous strip label supply, said addressing machine having a labeling head, transport means for supplying articles to the labeling head for addressing thereof, the labeling head including a label transfer wheel, means for cutting said supply strip into individual labels, means for transporting said labels from the cutting means to the label transfer wheel including an endless conveyor belt; and a label accumulator for receiving labels from said belt, said accumulator being adapted to hold a minimum supply of labels pending use by the transfer wheel to thereby avoid the need to exactly synchronize the operating speeds of the labels transporting means with said transfer wheel as otherwise required to assure timely delivery to and accurate positioning of labels on the transfer wheel prior to transfer to said articles.

Sept. 18, 1973 v. MCGUIRE 3,759,781

LABEL ACCUMULATOR FOR ADDRESSING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1970 5Sheets-Sheet 1 D Win an? lu uulll llllum lll ll u m llllllllllmlllllll Inu 1/ WW mwllllmmlm F/Gf 1 .JOH N V. M C G IXYQ ATTORNEY J. V. M GUIRESept. 18, 1973 LABEL ACCUMULATOR FOR ADDRESSING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed May 15, 1970 Sept. 18, 1973 J. v MCGUIRE V LABEL ACCUMULATOR FORADDRESSING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet .5

Filed May 15, 1970 T T t T J. v. M GUIRE 3,759,781

LABEL ACCUMULATOR FOR ADDRESSTNG MACHINE a. m 6R m I m R. I 2 Lu mm \NMmm q m 5 I. M Q \m 1 p mm mm mm a a 3 m m R E c mm R l, mm E h w w M QMw l 1 F Sept; 18, 1973 Sept. 7 18, 1973 r J. v. M GUIRE LABELACCUMULATOR FOR ADDRESSING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 15, 1970United States Patent US. Cl. 156-521 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREAn addressing machine for articles for use with a continuous strip labelsupply, said addressing machine having a labeling head, transport meansfor supplying articles to the labeling head for addressing thereof, thelabeling head including a label transfer wheel, means for cutting saidsupply strip into individual labels, means for transporting said labelsfrom the cutting means to the label transfer wheel including an endlessconveyor belt; and a label accumulator for receiving labels from saidbelt, said accumulator being adapted to hold a minimum supply of labelspending use by the transfer wheel to thereby avoid the need to exactlysynchronize the operating speeds of the label transporting means withsaid transfer wheel as otherwise required to assure timely delivery toand accurate positioning of labels on the transfer wheel prior totransfer to said articles.

This invention relates to addressing machines, and more particularly toaddressing machines incorporating an improved label supply arrangementdesigned to avoid the need to synchronize the label supply with thelabel transfer mechanism.

In machines for addressing articles such as envelopes, newspapers andthe like, the label supply is conveniently in the form of an endlessstrip or length of uncut labels, normally four or five abreast. As canbe appreciated, the labeling machine in these applications necessarilyincludes means to separate the supply strip into individual labels fortransfer thereof to the articles, and transport means to then carry thelabels to the label transfer means. However, operation of the labelseparating means as well as the label transport means normally must besynchronized exactly with that of the label transfer means to assure notonly a constant supply of labels to the transfer means, but also thatthe labels are supplied to the transfer means in exact correspondencewith cyclic operation of the transfer wheel to assure proper positioningof the label information on the articles.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved article addressing machine.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an addressingmachine incorporating improved means for supplying labels to the machinelabel transfer wheel without requiring that the operating speeds of thelabel supply means and the label transfer wheel be exactly synchronized.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a label accumulatorfor temporarily storing a relatively small number of labels pending useby a label transfer machine.

This invention relates to an improved article addressing machine adaptedfor use with labels supplied in the form of a continuous strip of uncutlabels, the combination comprising label transfer means; means forbringing articles to be addressed to the transfer means; and means forsupplying labels from the strip to the transfer means ineluding meansfor separating the strip into individual labels for use by the transfermeans; label accumulating means adapted to hold a minimum supply oflabels for use by the transfer means and thereby assure an uninterruptedsupply of labels to the transfer means without 3,759,781 Patented Sept.18, 1973 the need to exactly synchronize the operational speed of thelabel supplying means with that of the transfer means; and means fortransporting the labels from the separating means to the accumulatingmeans for use by the transfer means.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the ensuingdescription and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing the addressing machine of thepresent invention coupled with a discharge conveyor;

FIG. 2 is a side view with parts broken away showing the addressingmachine labeling head with the label accumulator of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the labeling head shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view showing the label strip feed andseparating mechanism and the label transport means for the labeling headshown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing the guillotine knife of the labelinghead shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an end view partially in section of the labeling head shown inFIG. 2 illustrating the label strip drive mechanism; and

FIG. 7 is a view taken along line 77 in FIG. 2 showing the portingarrangement of the vacuum admission valve.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown the labeling or addressingmachine, designated generally by the numeral 10, of the presentinvention. As will appear more fully hereafter, addressing machine 10serves to transfer labels 11, or the information thereon, onto articles13. Labels 11 are supplied to the labeling head portion 16 of addressingmachine 10 in the form of a continuous sheet 20 which usually consistsof label rows 64 four or five abreast. As will appear, label sheet 20'is cut into individual labels 11 which are carried by transport belt 35to accumulator 21 from where the labels are withdrawn by label pickoffwheel 22 and transferred to transfer wheel 17. Wheel 17 then transfersthe label itself or the information thereon to articles 13.

As is understood by those skilled in the addresssing or labeling art,labels 11 may be physically transferred to articles 13 as by gluing.Alternately, the label information only may be transferred to thearticles. In this latter instance, wax impressions on the label aretransferred with the aid of heat and pressure to the articles, the usedlabels preferably being collected in a suitable storage tray (not shown)for possible reuse as glued labels or simply destroyed. In this lattertype of application, transfer shoe 30 of wheel 17 incorporates suitableheating means (not shown) to facilitate transfer of the labelinformation.

Articles 13, which may comprise envelopes, cards, newspapers, and thelike, are stored in hopper 12. Article transport 14 carries the articles13 one at a time past transfer wheel 17 where the articles are labeled.The labeled articles may be then carried to a suitable take awayconveyor 18 by transport 14.

Addressing machine 10 has a table-like base 15 on which article hopper12 and article transport 14 are operatively supported, the feedingsurface of transport 14 being substantially level with the surface ofbase 15. In this arrangement, articles 13 rest partially on the surfaceof base 15 as they are carried past transfer wheel 17 by transport 14.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, transfer wheel17 is supported by drive shaft 17. Shaft 17 is rotatably journaled inthe frame member 26 of labeling head 16. Frame member 26 is in turnmounted on base 15 adjacent transport 14. Transfer wheel 17 has a curvedlabel transfer shoe 30 mounted on the periphery thereof and extendingpartially about the circumference of wheel 17. Wheel 17 is supported onframe member 26 opposite a suitable pressure roll (not shown) carried bybase and between which articles 13 are carried by transport 14. Suitableadjusting means (not shown) may be provided to enable the spacingbetween transfer wheel shoe 30 and the surface of the pressure roll tobe varied to accommodate different thickness articles and differentpressure requirements.

Vacuum holddown ports 31 (shown in FIG. 6) open to the periphery of shoe30. Ports 31 communicate via suitable control valve means (not shown)with a vacuum source to provide vacuum to the periphery of labeltransfer shoe 30 for temporarily attaching labels 11 to shoe 30 duringthe labeling process.

In applications where labels 11 are physically attached to articles 13as by gluing, vacuum is admitted to transfer shoe 30 as shoe 30 movesfrom a point opposite pick off wheel 22 to the area opposite articletransport 14. In applications where the label information only istransferred, the vacuum control valve means in transfer wheel 17 may bealtered to sustain vacuum to shoe 30 until shoe 30 is past the labeltransfer point. This facilitates removal of the used labels from thetransfer area and deposit in a used label storage tray when used.

It is understood that in applications where labels 11 are physicallyattached to articles 13, a suitable glue dispenser or applicator, suchas a dispensing roller (not shown), is provided to coat the underside ofthe label with adhesive prior to contact of the label with the articlebeing addressed. In this application, the glue dispensing roller isnormally disposed above article transport 14 and to the left of transferwheel 17 as seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

Pick off wheel 22 is mounted on frame member 26 between labelaccumulator 21 and transfer wheel 17, shaft 22' of wheel 22 beingjournaled in member 26 by suitable bearing means (not shown). Pick offwheel 22 includes suitable vacuum ports 23 (seen best in FIG. 6) openingto the periphery thereof to enable labels to be withdrawn fromaccumulator 21 and carried or transferred by wheel 22 to shoe of wheel17. Ports 23 communicate via suitable control valve means (not shown)with vacuum supply hose 24, the arrangement being such that vacuum isapplied to ports 23 during movement of the ported area of wheel 22 froma position substantially opposite discharge opening 25 of labelaccumulator 21 to a position opposite transfer wheel 17 There, thevacuum supply to ports 23 of pick off wheel 22 is interrupted to releasethe label therefrom for transfer to transfer wheel shoe 30. It isunderstood that the vacuum admitted to ports 31 of shoe serve to holdthe label on wheel 17 during the transfer process.

Label accumulator 21 is operatively disposed astride the label feed pathbetween label transport belt and pick off wheel 22. Accumulator 21,which is supported on frame member 26 by suitable means (not shown), hasa downwardly inclined base 27 with upstanding rear and side walls 28, 29respectively, walls 28, 29 being substantially perpendicular to base 27thereof. The lower edge of accumulator rear wall 28 is spaced above base27 to form label discharge opening 25.

To assure release of labels 11, label stripping finger 34 is provided,end 36 thereof being spaced closely adjacent the periphery of transportbelt 35 as belt 35 passes around pulley 38. To guard against withdrawalof more than one label at a time from accumulator 21, the end of base 27is disposed in closely spaced relationship to the periphery of labelpick off wheel 22. Preferably, suitable adjusting means such as screw 37is provided to enable base 27 to be moved toward or away from pick offwheel 22 as required to assure withdrawal of one label at a time fromaccumulator 21.

Label transport belt 35 is supported by a pair of pulleys 38, 39rotatably journaled on frame member 26. Lower pulley 38, which as willappear comprises the drive pulley, is arranged just above base 27 oflabel accumulator 21. Pulley 39, which comprises an idler pulley, issupported at the remote end 26' of frame member 26 just beyond theeffective cutting width of guillotine 40.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2-4 of the drawings, transport belt 35comprises a flexible belt perforated at spaced points along its length.The upper run of label transport belt 35 rides in recess 43 of elongatedvacuum distributing member 44 secured to frame 26 underneath thedischarge side of guillotine 40. Vacuum distributing member 44 is sizedto extend substantially the full distance between pulleys 38, 39, ends44 of member 44 being suitably curved to mate with the curved portionsof pulleys 38, 39 opposite thereto. The label supporting surface 48 ofvacuum distributing member 44 is substantially fiat With belt recess 43extending centrally along the length thereof, the depth of recess 43being such that the upper surface of belt 35 is substantially level withor slightly higher than the surface 48 of member 44. As best seen inFIG. 4, a raised outer lip 50 is provided along the outer edge of labelsupporting surface 48. The inside edge of label supporting surface 48 isdefined by the lower cutting edge 66 of guillotine 40 extending thereaong.

Vacuum distributing member 44 has a relatively large vacuum chamber 46therein communicated through distributor hoses 47 and distributor valve32 with the vacuum source, represented by supply hose 97. A series ofvacuum ports 49 are provided along the length of transport belt recess43 to supply vacuum from chamber 46 to label transport belt 35 as belt35 moves along recess 43. As can be understood, this arrangementprovides, in cooperation with perforations 42 in belt 35, vacuum alongthe upper run of belt 35 to tack or attach the labels followingoperation of guillotine 40 to belt 35 and enable belt 35 to transportthe labels laterally toward accumulator 21.

Lower drive pulley 38 has vacuum ports 52 (best seen in FIG. 3) openingto the periphery thereof to provide holddown vacuum for carrying thelabels to accumulator 21. Suitable vacuum control means (not shown)serve to control vacuum admission to ports 52 so as to provide vacuum tothe periphery of pulley 38 in the area extending from vacuumdistributing member 44 to a point adjacent label stripping finger 34. Asis understood, the labels are removed from pulley 38 and belt 35 bystripping finger 34, the labels resting on edge in accumulator 21.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, a pair of shafts 55, 56 arerotatably journaled on rear supports 62 of labeling head frame member26. A pair of feed sprockets 58 are secured to lower shaft 55, sprocketsbeing arranged to engage perforations 60 in margins of label form 20. Inaddition, shaft 55 has mounted at spaced points therealong roller anvils61, the number and position of anvils 61 corresponding to the pointswhere form 20 is to be slit longitudinally into label rows 64 andmargins 65 removed. Upper shaft 56 has mounted thereon opposite each ofthe roller anvils 61 and in cutting relationship thereto disc-likeslitters 63. As can be understood, slitters 63 cooperate with anvils 61to slit label form 20 in a lengthwise direction to thereby removemargins 65 and separate form 20 into individual rows 64. Label rows 64are subsequently cut into individual labels 11 by guillotine 40. As willappear, shaft 55 is intermittently rotated to advance label sheet 20toward guillotine 40, shaft 56 being suitgbly geared to shaft 55 forconcurrent rotation there- Wit To support the slitted label form as theform feeds toward guillotine 40, frame member 26 is provided with arelatively smooth lower guiding base 68 which extends to vacuumdistributing member 44 and forms the lower guillotine 40.

In addition to lower cutting edge 66, guillotine 40 includes an upperknife 69. Knife 69 is carried by part 70 slidably supported for up anddown movement in vertical grooves 71 in labeling head frame member 26.Upper knife part 70 is reciprocated by means of an eccentric shaft 74rotatably journaled in frame extensions 75 and connected to part 70 bylinks 76. Links 76 are journaled on eccentric shaft 74 by suitablebearing means (not shown) and are secured to part 70 by suitable pinmeans. As will appear, eccentric shaft 73 is driven in unison withvacuum drive pulley 38 from drive belt 78, shown in FIG. 6.

To prevent premature tacking of the slitted label form to the movinglabel transport belt 35 as form 20 is advanced underneath guillotineknife 69' and onto belt 35 riding along vacuum distributing member 44,the vacuum supply to distributing member 44 and belt 35 is interruptedby distributor control valve 32. Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 7of the drawings, control valve 32 includes a rotatable valve spool 93operated in unison with labeling head 16 from head drive shaft 87through gear set 94. Valve spool 93 rides in a cylindrical valve body 95having vacuum admission port 96 therethrough opposite recess 100. Port96 communicates with vacuum supply hose 97.

Valve spool '93 includes upper and lower recesses 98, 100 respectivelyin the periphery thereof with interconnecting vertical recess 101therebetween. Upper recess 98 extends through an arc of substantiall 180While lower recess 100 extends completely around the circumference ofvalve spool 93.

A discharge port 102 is provided opposite upper recess 98, port 102opening into vacuum chamber 103. Distributor hoses 47 are connected tovacuum chamber 103. As can be understood, vacuum from supply hose 97 iscontinuously admitted to the valve body 95. As spool 93 rotates inoperative unison with labeling head 16, upper recess 98 admits vacuum tochamber 103 and hoses 47 once during each revolution of spool 93 for aperiod equal to the arcuate extent of upper recess 98. It is understoodthat the arcuate extent of upper recess 98 is chosen to provide vacuumto distributor member 44 and label transport belt 35 for a durationsufiicient to allow belt 35 to transport labels 11 to accumulator 21.

To maintain the slitted label sheet stationary during operation ofguillotine 40, collapsible braking members 80 are suspended from thelower surface of knife part 70. Braking members 80, which are slidablyreceived in recesses 81 in part 70, are biased downwardly by springs 82toward guiding base 68. As can be understood, on movement of part 70toward base 68, braking members 80 first contact the slitted label sheet20 to hold sheet 20 stationary during operation of guillotine 40.

To promote cutting of labels 11 by guillotine 40 and stacking of thelabels in accumulator 21, the cutting edge 69' of knife 69 may be angledso that knife 69, during the cutting stroke thereof, cuts across theslitted label form in scissors-like fashion. Labels 11, as they are cutoff, drop one by one onto label transport belt 35 and are carriedthereby to accumulator 21 as will appear. It is understood that therelative operating speeds of transfer wheel 17 and label transport belt35 and guillotine 40 are chosen to assure a steady supply of cut labelsto accumulator 21 for use by transfer wheel 17.

Addressing machine is driven by a suitable motor (not shown), therebeing suitable power transfer means from the machine motor to articletransport 14 and to transfer wheel shaft 17 in labeling head 16. Pickolf wheel shaft 22' is driven in unison with transfer wheel 17 bysuitable gear means (not shown). Suitable clutch means (not shown) maybe provided to interrupt drive to transfer wheel 17 and pick off wheel22 in the event of failure or interruption in the supply of articlesbeing labeled.

Head drive shaft 87 extends laterally along labeling head 16 and issuitably journaled in frame member 26 thereof. Both vacuum drive pulley38 and shaft 87 are driven from pick off wheel shaft 22 through suitablepower transfer means such as gears (not shown) at a speed sufficient toassure a continuous supply of cut labels to transfer wheel 17. Shaft 87drives eccentric shaft 74 by means of drive belt 78.

Referring particularly to FIG. 6, sprocket shaft 55 has an adjustableratchet type input clutch 88 supported on the outermost end thereof.Clutch 88 is driven in oscillating fashion by eccentric shaft 74 throughlink '89 which is pinned oif-center to eccentric shaft pulley 90 and toclutch 88. Slitter shaft 56 is geared to rotate in unison with but in adirection opposite to sprocket drive shaft 55.

Clutch 8 8 includes ,a suitable adjustable screw 91 to enable one-waydriving arc of clutch 88 to be adjusted. As is apparent, on rotation ofeccentric shaft 74 by drive belt 78 to operate guillotine 40, eccentric89 first turns the input member of clutch 88 in a forward or label sheetfeeding direction (the direction shown by the solid line arrow in FIG.6). Clutch 88 accordingly engages to drive sprocket shaft 55, which inturn drives slitter shaft 56 to advance label sheet 20, the duration ofengagement of clutch 88 being adjusted to advance label sheet 20 onelabel width. The continued rotation of eccentric shaft 74 operatesguillotine 40 to cut off the label width advanced thereunder, the cutlabels dropping onto transport belt 35. While guillotine 40 is operated,drive link '89 reverses the drive to clutch 88 (the direction shown bythe dotted line arrow in FIG. 6) to interrupt power to shafts 55, 56 andadvance of label sheet 20.

OPERATION On start up of addressing machine 10, labeling head 16 onlymay be conveniently operated first to provide a small number of cutlabels 11 in accumulator 2-1 for use by transfer wheel 17. During thisportion of machine operation, the vacuum supply to pick off wheel 22 maybe shut off to permit a working supply of labels to be built up inaccumulator 21.

With operation of labeling head 16, clutch 88, which is drivinglyconnected to head drive shaft 87 via drive belt 78 and link 89, servesto index sprocket drive shaft 55 forward once each revolution of shaft87 to advance label form 20 one label width. As label form 20 advances,slitters 63 on shaft 56 cut form 20 longitudinally to remove margins 65and separate form 20 in label rows 64. At the same time, the previouslyslitted leading end of form 20 advances under guillotine 40 and overbelt 35 where the label rows 64 are cut by the guillotine knife 69 intoindividual labels -11.

It is understood that the vacuum supply to distributing member 44 andlabel transport belt 35 is interrupted by control valve 32 while theslitted label form 20 is advanced under knife 69 of guillotine 40 andonto belt 35. This prevents premature tacking of the slitted label formrows 64 to belt 35 with consequent misalignment and irregular cutting.As knife 69* of guillotine 40 descends to cut off individual labels 11,control valve 32 reconnects vacuum distributing member 44 with thevacuum supply. The cut labels discharged from guillotine 40, are accordingly tacked onto label transport belt 35 and are carried thereby toaccumulator 21.

It is understood that vacuum from distributing member 44 serves, throughthe medium of perforations 42 in belt 35, to temporarily tack labels 11to the portion of belt 35 moving underneath guillotine 44. As the labelson belt 35 reach drive pulley 38, the vacuum supply to ports 49 inpulley 38 retains the labels on periphery of pulley 38 until the labels,near stripping finger 34 at which point the vacuum supply to thatportion of pulley 38 is shut olf to permit stripping finger 34 toseparate the labels from belt 35 and pulley 38. The labels as they areremoved are stacked edge down in accumulator 21, the labels restingagainst accumulator rear wall 28. As can be understood, labeling head 16is operated in this fashion until a supply of labels deemed adequate toassure sustained transfer wheel operation has been reached inaccumulator 21.

Where knife 69 of guillotine 40 is of the type that cuts the slittedlabel form straight across, a number of labels, depending on the labelform width, are simultaneously deposited onto belt 35 and are stored inaccumulator 21 substantially en masse for use by transfer wheel 17.Where knife 69 of guillotine 40 is of the type which cuts progressivelyin scissors-like fashion, the cut labels are deposited onto belt 35 insuccession. In this latter instance, variations in the number of labelsheld in accumulator 21 are normally smaller since this type of labelsupply more closely approximates label usage by transfer wheel 17.

Articles 13 to be addressed are placed in hopper 12, it being understoodthat hopper '12. is adjustable to accommodate various sized articles.Article transport 14 feeds articles 13 singly from hopper 12 to transferwheel 17 where the articles are addressed, the adderssed articles beingdischarged by transport 14 onto the take-away conveyor 18.

With the desired number of cut labels in accumulator 21 and a supply ofarticles 13 in hopper 12, pick off wheel 22 is rendered operative byreconnecting the vacuum supply thereto. On advance of articles 13forward by transport 14 to transfer wheel 17, pick off wheel 22withdraws labels one by one from accumulator 21 through dischargeopening 25 thereof and transfers the labels onto the shoe of transferwheel 17 rotating in unison therewith. It is understood that transferwheel '17 and pick off wheel 22 are positioned on their respectiveshafts 17, 22', such that the label bearing portion of pick off wheel 22comes opposite transfer wheel shoe 30 once during each revolutionthereof. This enables the label to be transferred from wheel v22 ontoshoe 30 of transfer wheel 17 in proper position for transfer of thelabel, or the address information thereon, to the article 13 broughtforward by transport 14.

Since the label supply means, that is, strip feed sprockets 58,guillotine 40 and label transport belt are driven in unison withtransfer wheel 17 at a speed adequate to provide an uninterrupted supplyof cut labels to accumulator 21 and transfer wheel 17, accumulator 21 isresupplied with cut labels as fast as labels are withdrawn by pick offwheel 22. However, the supply of cut labels in accumulator 21 serves asa cushion to accommodate the intermittent output of cut labels byguillotine 40. In this manner, accumulator 21 avoids the need to exactlysynchronize the operating speeds of feed sprockets 58, guillotine andlabel transport belt 35 with transfer wheel 17 to assure not only acontinuous label supply to transfer wheel 17 but specific positioning ofthe label on transfer wheel shoe 30 to provide exact location of thelabel, or the information therefrom, on the article being labeled.

While the invention has been described with reference to. the structuredisclosed, it is not confined to the details set forth; but is intendedto cover such modifications, or changes as may come within the scope ofthe following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an article addressing machine of the type adapted for use withuncut labels supplied as a continuous strip, the combination comprising:

label transfer means;

means for bringing articles to be addressed to said transfer means foraddressing thereof;

means for supplying individual labels from said strip of uncut labels tosaid transfer means including means for separating said strip intoindividual labels for use by said transfer means;

label accumulating means interposed in the label supply path betweensaid separating means and said transfer means whereby said labels passfrom said separating means into said label accumulating means and thento said transfer means, said accumulator means being adapted to hold aminimum supply of said labels for use by said transfer means so as toassure an uninterrupted supply of labels to said transfer means withoutthe need to exactly synchronize the operational speed of said labelsupplying means With that of said transfer means; and

means for transporting said labels from said separating means to saidaccumulating means for use by said transfer means.

2. The addressing machine according to claim 1 in which said labeltransporting means includes an endless belt, the inlet of saidaccumulating means being operatively arranged adjacent the labeldischarge end of said belt whereby labels are discharged from said beltinto said accumulating means pending use by said transfer means.

3. The addressing machine according to claim 2 in which saidaccumulating means includes an upwardly inclined base, said belt servingto discharge said labels edge first onto said base, and a generallyupstanding rear wall cooperable with said base to support said labels ina substantially upright position;

said accumulating means including a label discharge opening adjacent thejuncture of said base with said rear wall to enable labels to bewithdrawn from said accumulating means for use by said transfer means.

4. The addressing machine according to claim 3 including vacuum pickofimeans operatively disposed between said accumulating means dischargeopening and said label transfer means, said pickoff means being adaptedto withdraw said labels one by one from said accumulating means andconvey said labels to said label transfer means.

5. The addressing machine according to claim 3 in which saidaccumulating means includes a stripper finger for removing labels fromsaid conveyor belt.

6. In an article labeling head adapted for use with an uncut supply ofaddress bearing labels, the combination of:

a label transfer wheel for transferring individual labels to thearticles being labeled;

means for separating said uncut label supply into individual labels foruse by said transfer wheel, said separating means including a guillotineknife;

a vacuum conveyor belt for carrying separated labels from said knifetoward said transfer wheel;

means drivingly supporting said conveyor belt to provide a beltoperating run along the discharge side of said knife so as to receivelabels discharged by said knife;

means communicating said belt operating run with a low pressure sourcewhereby to drivingly adhere said labels to said belt;

a label receiving accumulator at the discharge end of said beltoperating run for receiving labels carried by said belt, saidaccumulator being capable of holding a plurality of said labels for useby said transfer wheel whereby to obviate the need to maintain theoperational speed of said belt and said transfer wheel in continuoussynchronism; and

means to transfer labels from said accumulator means to said transferwheel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,554,843 1/1971 Kirk et a1.156-521 2,907,567 10/1959 Schneider et al. 156DIG. 28

2,707,915 5/1955 Nefzger 156DIG. 24

FOREIGN PATENTS 805,074 11/1958 Great Britain 156DIG. 27

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner J. V. DORAMUS, Assistant Examiner

